Page 173 of Long Live the King

Fraoch said, “Ye hae heard of Mag Mòr?”

“Aye, I ken the list of kings, he is king after Alexander III. Twas a time of turmoil, the next king was Robert the Bruce. The Earl has a book with the list in it.”

Fraoch said, “Yer list daena include Asgall?”

“Nae, never...” He looked at his fingers and pointed and folded them down as if he were counting, then said, “...never heard of an Asgall.”

“Och, tis verra fine, verra fine.”

Fraoch was standing while the rest of us were sitting with plates of food in front of us. He put his boot up on the seat, and leaned on his knee, but Lady Mairead said, “Och nae.”

He pulled his foot down quickly. “M’apologies, Lady Mairead.”

A servant brought him a plate. “Nae, I just ate dinner. I am not—” Then he seemed to change his mind, he sat down, and pulled the plate closer. He said tae Zach, “As ye always say, best eat if tis in front of ye.”

Zach said, “It’s true, right Ben?”

Fraoch said, “Archie, while I eat, how about ye stand up and address the table, ye tell everyone what the book says.”

Archie stood. He looked for the first time in weeks, truly well, happy and healthy. He had the book in his arms but you could tell it wasn’t out of desperation, it was out of delight. He stood beside his chair, then Lady Mairead said, “We canna see ye, Archie, ye are too short, stand upon the chair.”

Fraoch muttered, chuckling, “Och nae.”

She leveled her eyes on him, “He is my grandson and heir tae the throne of Riaghalbane and Scotland, his boots are never toodirty tae stand upon a chair.” She waved her hand, “Now speak, Archibald.”

Archie said, “This is the book. Grandmother gave it to me, it is verra old, Da has the same book where he is.” He opened it to the first page and held it up. “See the sun? Da drew it.” Jack on my lap clapped his hands. “Da!”

Archie said, “Exactly, Jack.”

Fraoch, shoveling eggs in his mouth, said, “I was sitting right beside him, in the Great Hall?—”

Lady Mairead said, “What Great Hall?”

“Stirling castle.”

Lady Mairead said, “Och, this is verra good. Almost good enough that I will forgive the mess ye hae made tae the important and ancient book.Almost.”

Fraoch continued, “I drew the roll of toilet paper.”

Archie pointed at it. “I think you meant, bring toilet paper.”

“I did, if we hae some, we ought tae bring it, there inna any for near seven centuries.”

Archie said, “Da wrote this about the dawn too.” Then he flipped the page to another. “This is where he said to come.” He showed that page all around the table.

Fraoch said, “That’s my drawing of a fishing pole.”

Hayley said, “You were telling me to bring it.”

He kissed her on her cheek. “Magnus dinna think ye would ken what it meant.”

Archie said, “We all know what you meant, Uncle Fraoch.”

He showed another page and another. Then finally he showed the sword with the Gaelic words. He said, “I don’t know what this says.”

Sean said, “We hae strength as one.”

Archie looked down on it, nodding, then he tucked the book back to his chest, while we applauded for his show and tell. Then he put the book down on the table while he climbed from thechair and he and Ben raced off with the cousins, leaving the book behind.

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